The team last week was an absolute star on the French roads of the Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc. Unfortunately victory was missing. A triumph that would have been widely deserved for the men headed by Starchyk. However the whole the team has returned home with a huge general satisfaction for the results obtained in all the 5 stages. The riders achieved three second places, one with Marco Tizza, in the 3rd stage, and two with Pierpaolo Ficara (in the 5th and in the general classification). To these results are added also the 3rd place of Ficara in the second stage, the 6th and the 8th, always of the Sicilian athlete in the opening day and in the 4th stage, and the 7th position, still in the 4th stage with Danilo Celano. In addition, the Latvian Viesturs Luksevics was the undisputed “king” of combativeness going on the attack with great determination every single day. These valuable placements further enhance those of the competitions held in the last month (GP Plumenec, Bucle de l’Aulne, GP Lugano, Gippingen and Mont Venoux) where the team has always reached the top ten.
And now it’s up to the national championships and with such an optimal condition at Amore & Vita – Prodir there is great optimism. The team will be engaged on two fronts, Italy with Danilo Celano, Pierpaolo Ficara and Marco Tizza and in Latvia where the boys have already taken home the U23 time trial with Eriks Gavars and the bronze medal with Kristaps Pelcers, while in the elite time trial, the expert Kornivols reached 4th a few seconds from the podium.
“We are confident that we can achieve other excellent results – explains the d.s. Starchyk – in an interview with our patron Ivano Fanini, I read that we run to win. Ivano always thinks big and that’s good. Winning the Italian title will be really difficult but already in the past there have been surprises so never say never. What is certain is that our athletes at the start are all in the best condition of the season and have shown that they can really compete even with the best in the world. So let’s not start off beaten but with the maximum determination ”.
“As for Latvia – continues to explain the former Ukrainian champion – we have Luksevics who in the past has already won the national title and who has the legs to repeat it. There are very strong athletes in this country, people like Skujins, Neilands and Liepins, however our boys, although many of them are only 20 years old, will be able to do well and also aim for the U23 title as well as being a valid support for the leader Luksevics. In short, we are waiting for a weekend of fire and we hope to bring home some great satisfaction“.